Back to School after a Vacation Every year it was the same: spend the last few days of Christmas vacation searching my mind, files, teacher books and the internet for the perfect activity that would get my students back in the groove after vacation. Most of what I’d find would
When I’m working with other teachers, one of the most popular things I do is share some of my fave tech tips, and my love for (good) PowerPoint is one thing I like to share. One tip is that you can crop any picture to any shape in PowerPoint with
When I was teaching high school, I kept a can of spray cheese in my classroom, and when kids would whine, I would pull it out and ask, “Would you like some cheese with that whine?” I had to make a joke of it because listening to whining is no
What happens when a gifted student moves from one school district to another? How do parents obtain continuity of service for gifted students? How can you make the transition as smooth as possible? When gifted kids move, it can be trickier than it is for typical learners. The same is,
What do you give a gifted kid for the holidays or birthdays or any other random time? I’ve put together this gifted kid gift guide to help you with ideas for yourself or grandparents or anyone else who is trying to share gifts with the gifted. I have an entire
Group work self-reflection questions for students are a key factor in effective group work and a best practice for teachers using small groups. When students work in collaborative groups, it’s critical to have self-reflection questions for them to consider when the group work is done or you risk wasting terrific,
Reader Request I love responding to reader requests, and I recently solicited some questions on my Facebook page. This question came in from a mom of a gifted child, and I think it’s a common concern. Mom writes: What is the best way to teach a gifted child humility in youth?
You got the notice that a child is being screened for gifted services, and you’re not at all surprised. After all, the two older kids in the family are already in the program. After the testing, the letter comes home: child number three didn’t qualify for the gifted program. Well,
I frequently get emails and messages from parents asking how to pick a school for their gifted child. It’s a scary thing to find out that your child has specific needs and not know how those needs will be met at school. This is as true for parents of kids
I loathe PBIS even more than I loathe Accelerated Reader, and friends, that’s a high bar. Why I think PBIS is a terrible idea To be fair, it’s not just PBIS. It’s all of the same type of behavior management systems that use often elaborate systems to punish and reward
Need Some Differentiation Advice? Have you ever wanted some differentiation advice from real, live teachers in real, live classrooms? How can teachers who are comfortable with a differentiated classroom support and encourage teachers who are new to differentiation or struggling with differentiation? I’ve got answers! I recently had the wonderful
Interested in a great new reading strategy for your classroom? I’m excited to share this new twist on an ancient reading strategy with you, and I can’t wait to hear how it goes in your classroom! First, the backstory. Books & Podcasts I love books, and I love podcasts. When
